Overview
The following explains how Auto-Renew domain registrations are charged and billed.
FAQs
What are Auto-Renew Only domains?
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These domains are specific domains determined by the registry that do not renew the same way as Generic TLDs (.COM, .NET, and .ORG). As a result, they do not have an Add Years button on the Manage Registrations page and cannot be renewed by manually placing a renewal order.
The following TLDs are Auto-Renew Only. DreamHost strongly recommends that the auto-renew setting remain enabled on these domain names, unless the registrant chooses to discontinue renewing them:
- .AT
- .DE
- .JP
Are domain registration renewals refundable?
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No. Once a domain is auto-renewed, or manually renewed, your credit card is charged and the domain is renewed for one more year. At this point, the domain registry updates their information to show you are the owner for an additional year. Since there's no way to reverse the renewal from the registry, a refund is not possible.
Will DreamHost honor a previously-quoted rate?
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Yes. If a registration renewal price increases after you receive a renewal notice, DreamHost will honor the quoted rate in the notice.
Will I receive a receipt after I renew my domain?
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Yes. A renewal receipt is emailed to the account owner that shows the date of charge and the date of renewal.
Can I change the Auto-Renew status in the panel during the renewal period?
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No. Within the 31-day period between when it is charged, billed, and expires, you are not able to change the status of Auto-Renew in the panel. This is a safeguard that ensures the domain does indeed renew, since you’ve already paid for the renewal. All of these details are reflected in the receipt that is emailed to you when the charge occurs.
How Auto-Renew domains are charged and billed
The following sections describe how Generic and Auto-Renew Only domains are charged and billed.
Renewing process (Generic and Auto-Renew Only)
31 days prior to the expiration date, the credit card is charged.
- If the charge is successful, the account is billed for the renewal.
- If the charge is unsuccessful, the domain’s renewal status changes to ASK. An email is sent to the account owner notifying them that an attempt to charge the credit card was made and was unsuccessful, along with instructions on how to manually renew/turn back on auto renew.
Renewing 'Generic' domains
The following table illustrates example dates when each step occurs for Generic domain renewals (.COM, .NET, .ORG):
| Date of purchase | Charge card | Bill account | Renewal date | Expiration date | New annual term begins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2024 | Nov 30, 2024 | Nov 30, 2024 | Nov 30, 2024 | Dec 31, 2024 | Jan 1, 2025 |
Renewing 'Auto-Renew Only' domains
The following table illustrates example dates when each step occurs for Auto-Renew Only domain renewals. Note that the Renewal and Expiration dates are the same:
| Date of purchase | Charge card | Bill account | Renewal date | Expiration date | New annual term begins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2024 | Nov 30, 2024 | Nov 30, 2024 | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2024 | Jan 1, 2025 |